Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has once again dismissed the prospect of negotiations with the United States over the country’s nuclear programme, accusing Washington of routinely violating its commitments.
“The side we’re facing [the US] breaks their promises in every matter. They lie, issue military threats, assassinate people, and bomb nuclear facilities. We cannot negotiate and make agreements with such a party,” Khamenei said in remarks aired on Iranian state television.
His comments came a day after Tehran reiterated it would not hold direct talks with Washington, with Khamenei describing dialogue with the US as “a sheer dead end.” Meanwhile, Iranian diplomats met with representatives from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom—the E3—along with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas to discuss the looming reimposition of sanctions.
The debate over resuming talks with the US remains a key flashpoint. Addressing the UN General Assembly, US President Donald Trump had asserted that Iran would “never possess a nuclear weapon,” branding Tehran as the “world’s number one sponsor of terror.”
“The US has announced the result of the talks in advance,” Khamenei said. “The result is the closure of nuclear activities and enrichment. This is not a negotiation. It is a diktat, an imposition.”
The remarks follow the UN Security Council’s rejection of a resolution to extend sanctions relief for Iran. The E3 have accused Tehran of breaching its obligations under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), pointing to uranium stockpiles more than 40 times the agreed limit. The US, under Donald Trump, unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018, reinstating sanctions as part of its “maximum pressure” campaign—a policy largely upheld under President Joe Biden.
European nations have indicated a willingness to extend the sanctions deadline if Iran resumes direct US talks, permits UN inspectors broader access to nuclear facilities, and addresses the over 400 kg of highly enriched uranium under UN monitoring.
However, the latest round of discussions on the sidelines of the UNGA produced little progress. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul admitted the meeting “didn’t go particularly well.”
